The NCAA rushing leader will end the year with an almost equally difficult assignment.

Wolfe can finish the season with 2,000 rushing yards if he gains at least 100 yards Tuesday in the Poinsettia Bowl against No. 25 TCU at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium (8 p.m., ESPN2).

Reaching the century mark against the nation's fourth-ranked run defense would represent one of the best overall performances of Wolfe's brilliant career.

TCU (10-2) has gone 19 consecutive games without allowing a 100-yard rusher since New Mexico's DonTrell Moore gained 129 yards against the Horned Frogs on Oct. 1, 2005.

Boston College, Florida and Utah are the nation's only other Division I-A teams that haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher this year.

"They have a very talented defense," Wolfe said. "I'm sure everyone across the country knows that. As long as we win the football game, then I've probably done my job."

Wolfe will have to do his job for Northern Illinois to have any chance of pulling off the upset. A knee injury has sidelined starting quarterback Phil Horvath and should put even more pressure
on Wolfe to carry Northern Illinois' offense.

Then again, Wolfe already has proved he's capable of filling that role.

The senior standout has joined Georgia's Herschel Walker, Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett and Miami (Ohio)'s Travis Prentice as the only Division I-A players in history to rush for at least 1,500 yards in
three consecutive seasons.

He rushed for 171 yards against Ohio State this season. He gained 148 yards on just 17 carries against Michigan last year.

The 5-foot-7 dynamo now will try to end his outstanding college career with one more notable performance against a highly regarded opponent.

"We haven't played anyone that has a tailback like they do," TCU coach Gary Patterson said.

TCU running game vs. Northern Illinois run defense: Although NCAA rushing leader Garrett Wolfe's attempts to run on TCU's exceptional defense will earn most of the pregame
attention, this game could come down to how well the Horned Frogs run the ball on Northern Illinois. TCU has won all eight games in which it has rushed for at least 167 yards. The Frogs have
averaged 211 rushing yards in each of their 10 wins, but they've rushed for just 111 yards per game in their two losses. A balanced rushing attack that includes Aaron Brown, Lonta Hobbs and quarterback Jeff Ballard has helped TCU average 223 rushing yards per contest during its seven-game winning streak. NIU has allowed just 2.7 yards per carry in its seven
wins, but the Huskies have given up 4.2 yards per rush in their five losses. Edge: TCU.

TCU passing game vs. Northern Illinois pass defense: Ballard completed 78 percent of his passes for 760 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in his final three games of the
regular season. The senior quarterback now closes his college career against a Northern Illinois team that ranks 104th in the nation in pass defense. Ballard should have a big night as long as his
offensive line can contain Larry English and Craig Rusch, who have combined for 16 sacks and 27 tackles for loss.Edge: TCU.

Northern Illinois running game vs. TCU run defense: Wolfe enters the Poinsettia Bowl needing 100 yards to reach the 2,000-yard mark for the season. He could have trouble reaching that
plateau against TCU, which owns the nation's fourth-ranked run defense. TCU is one of four Division I-A teams in the nation that hasn't allowed any individual to rush for 100 yards this season. The
last running back to gain 100 yards against TCU was New Mexico's DonTrell Moore on Oct. 1, 2005.Edge: Even.

Northern Illinois passing game vs. TCU pass defense: A knee injury has sidelined Northern Illinois starting quarterback Phil Horvath for this game and will force sophomore Dan Nicholson into duty. Nicholson also replaced an injured Horvath at the end of last season, so he isn't exactly in an unfamiliar role. Nicholson owns a 3-1 career record as a starter and led the
Huskies to a 27-0 victory over Eastern Michigan in the regular-season finale despite throwing three interceptions. Nicholson could have trouble finding time to throw against a TCU defense that has
recorded 24 sacks during its seven-game winning streak. Edge: TCU.

TCU coaches vs. Northern Illinois coaches: TCU's Gary Patterson has established himself as arguably the greatest head coach from a non-BCS program. Patterson has led the
Frogs to four 10-win seasons in their last five years. TCU owns a 4-3 bowl record during Patterson's tenure. TCU had gone 41 years without a bowl victory before Patterson's arrival. Northern Illinois
coach Joe Novak has engineered an equally dramatic turnaround. Northern Illinois has compiled seven consecutive winning seasons after earning just one victory in Novak's first 27 games at the
school.Edge: TCU.

TCU will win if: The Horned Frogs should breeze if they hold Wolfe to fewer than 100 rushing yards. Even if Wolfe reaches the century mark, TCU's ability to run and pass against Northern
Illinois' vulnerable defense should allow the Frogs to win.

Northern Illinois will win if: The Huskies need Wolfe to have a big game that will allow them to control the clock and keep their defense off the field. A huge performance from Wolfe also would
take the pressure off Nicholson.

Worth noting: This marks the first time TCU and Northern Illinois have faced each other. … TCU has trailed for a total of 17 minutes, 8 seconds during its current seven-game winning streak.
TCU has outscored teams 176-13 in the first half during this streak. … First-team all-Mountain West Conference players for TCU included DE Tommy Blake, KR Brian Bonner, DE
Chase Ortiz, LB Jason Phillips, OT Herbert Taylor and S Marvin White. … First-team all-Mid-American Conference players for Northern Illinois included TB Garrett Wolfe, OT Doug Free and DE Larry English. … At least a couple of players from the local NFL team should have interest in the Poinsettia Bowl. San Diego Chargers RB
LaDainian Tomlinson is a former TCU star. Tomlinson's backup – Michael Turner – starred for Northern Illinois. … This game features two of the nation's most underrated offensive tackles. TCU's
Herb Taylor has made 48 consecutive starts, while Northern Illinois' Free is rated as the 68th overall NFL Draft prospect by Frank Coyle of draftinsiders.com. … Don't be surprised if a blocked
kick plays a major role in this game. TCU has blocked three punts this season, while Northern Illinois has blocked two punts and an extra-point attempt.